Category: spiced

Spiked Apple Cider

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

Spiked Apple Cider

There’s nothing better than a warm drink in hand when the weather is chilly. Here’s a classic that’s required for fall, in our opinion: Hot Spiked Apple Cider! There’s something about the combination of sweet cinnamon and cloves with the subtle spicy finish of rum or bourbon that’s absolutely soul warming. The liquor melds seamlessly into the hot cider, making a smooth sip and a cozy finish. This recipe has just the right balance of spices with alcohol: and a side benefit: it makes your kitchen smell like a fall candle.

What’s in this spiked apple cider recipe?

Apple cider is a drink that’s been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Romans in 55 BC! This spiked apple cider recipe is simmered with mulling spices, then combined with bourbon or rum for a tasty finish. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • High-quality apple cider, preferably from your farmers market or local orchard. Look for unfiltered cider, which maintains the best flavor and color. If you’re in a time crunch and want to make your life super easy, you can always buy a pre-spiced apple cider and add rum to that.
  • Whole spices: cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Make sure to use the whole versions of these spices, not ground, which is key to getting the best flavor. Star anise is the most unique of these spices to the American kitchen: it should be available at most grocery stores or you can buy star anise online.
Apple cider spices

How to make spiced apple cider: basic method

Making this hot spiked apple cider recipe is incredibly easy: all you need is time! Here are the basic steps:

  • Toast the spices: Toast the spices for a few minutes on the stovetop. This releases their fragrance (and makes your kitchen smell amazing).
  • Simmer: Add the apple cider and heat until warmed through, about 30 minutes. You can also use a slow cooker or Instant Pot: see below.
  • Filter: You’ll notice that particulate rises to the top of the cider while it’s cooking. Use a fine mesh strainer or sieve to strain it off (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot).
  • Spike it: Add the rum or bourbon all at once, or add about 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving. Spiking each drink separately lets you serve both non-alcoholic hot cider and spiked cider at the same time!
Spiked Cider

Serving spiked apple cider for a party

Here are a few tips if you plan on serving this warming drink at a party!

  • Double or triple it: You’ll need to use a larger pot to accommodate.
  • Consider Crockpot or Instant Pot: Using a slow cooker to keep the spiked cider warm is great for parties. Head to our Slow Cooker Apple Cider.
  • Spike the drinks individually: When you’re serving a crowd, it’s nice to have the flexibility to spike the cider for each person individually. Then the drink works for both kids and adults.

Use bourbon or rum

What’s the best alcohol to use for a spiked apple cider recipe? Rum or bourbon are the best choices. Any type of rum works: white rum, aged rum, or dark rum (aged or dark will add more flavor complexity with vanilla and oak notes). Any type of bourbon works as well! The rum melds more seamlessly into the flavor of cider, making it our top choice. Bourbon is a close second, and has a slightly more prominent flavor on the finish.

Hot Spiked Apple Cider Recipe

More cozy drinks

Outside of this spiked apple cider recipe, there are so many winter drinks and hot cocktails to try! Try these cozy options:

This hot spiked apple cider recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan.

Print
Spiked Apple Cider

Spiked Apple Cider

  • Author: A Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 drinks
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 3 star anise
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup rum (of any kind) or bourbon
  • For the garnish: star anise, cinnamon stick, orange slice

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot*. Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Simmer: Turn the heat to low. Pour in the apple cider and bring to below a simmer, just barely bubbling. Set a timer for 30 minutes and reduce to low heat (don’t let it simmer).
  3. Filter: Skim off any particulate that rises to the top of the pot using a fine mesh sieve or strainer (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot). 
  4. Serve: Pour in the rum or bourbon (or add 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving). Ladle into 8 mugs. If desired, garnish with star anise, cinnamon stick, or an orange slice.

Notes

*Or, go to Crockpot Apple Cider for slow cooker or Instant Pot instructions. Make the cider, then add the rum or bourbon before serving. 

  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Spiked apple cider, spiked apple cider recipe, spiked cider, spiked hot apple cider

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Iced Applesauce Cookies

No one will be able to stop eating these applesauce cookies! Made with applesauce and oatmeal, they’re laced with an easy icing drizzle. Hello and welcome to our new favorite cookie recipe…spiced Applesauce Cookies! These are so moist and irresistible, you’ll forget about everything else and you savory each chewy bite. (Sorry, not sorry.) The applesauce makes them ultra moist, and they’ve got a little oatmeal to balance the sweet. But make no mistake: these aren’t a health food. They’re more like a lighter version of an oatmeal cream pie: which is AOK in our book. Here’s what to know about them! Ingredients for applesauce cookies These applesauce cookies are perfectly spiced to perfection, and so moist you won’t believe how soft and chewy they are. I always reach for a soft cookie over a crispy one (chewy ginger molasses cookies, any day). So this type of cookie is my ultimate. Here’s what you’ll need for the tastiest applesauce oatmeal cookies: All purpose flour Old Fashioned rolled oats (aka oatmeal!) Light brown sugar & granulated sugar Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves Baking soda Salt Applesauce Neutral oil Egg Vanilla extract When it comes to a neutral oil, you can use grapeseed […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

No one will be able to stop eating these applesauce cookies! Made with applesauce and oatmeal, they’re laced with an easy icing drizzle.

Applesauce cookies

Hello and welcome to our new favorite cookie recipe…spiced Applesauce Cookies! These are so moist and irresistible, you’ll forget about everything else and you savory each chewy bite. (Sorry, not sorry.) The applesauce makes them ultra moist, and they’ve got a little oatmeal to balance the sweet. But make no mistake: these aren’t a health food. They’re more like a lighter version of an oatmeal cream pie: which is AOK in our book. Here’s what to know about them!

Ingredients for applesauce cookies

These applesauce cookies are perfectly spiced to perfection, and so moist you won’t believe how soft and chewy they are. I always reach for a soft cookie over a crispy one (chewy ginger molasses cookies, any day). So this type of cookie is my ultimate. Here’s what you’ll need for the tastiest applesauce oatmeal cookies:

  • All purpose flour
  • Old Fashioned rolled oats (aka oatmeal!)
  • Light brown sugar & granulated sugar
  • Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Applesauce
  • Neutral oil
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract

When it comes to a neutral oil, you can use grapeseed oil, organic canola oil, or vegetable oil: any oil that has a neutral flavor. Avoid olive oil since it’s rather strong! You can also substitute melted butter for oil if you wish.

Applesauce oatmeal cookies

Add icing for best results!

The best part about these applesauce cookies? The powdered sugar icing! This icing takes them up a notch: both in overall presentation and in flavor! The sweet icing adds just the right additional sweetness to each bite. (Side bonus: it reminds us of an oatmeal cream pie.) Here’s what to know about this easy icing:

  • Mix powdered sugar with milk until smooth (quantities here). Easy as that! Make it dairy free with dairy free milk.
  • Drizzle with a fork, not a spoon! Yes, that’s right. We always reach for a spoon: but it’s the tines of a fork that make the best icing drizzle! Trust us.
  • Add color if desired. We made a cute holiday version by splitting the icing and adding food coloring to make half red and half green.

Tips for making applesauce cookies

Here are a few tips for the baking portion of applesauce cookies. It’s very easy and similar to most standard cookie recipes. Just a few things to note are:

  • The dough will be very sticky. It’s stickier than what you’d expect for say, a chocolate chip cookie dough.
  • Observe the chill time. After you mix up the dough, chill for 10 minutes. Don’t skip this part: it helps so the cookies don’t spread when baking.
  • Use 2 spoons or a cookie scoop to shape drops. Don’t adjust the cookies once they’re on the tray. The dough is sticky, so it’s a little harder to work with and form into a round drop (the cookie scoop is easiest). But never fear: once your cookies are on the try, they’ll bake up nicely.
Applesauce cookies

Vegan variation

Want a vegan variation on these applesauce oatmeal cookies? Luckily, they’re easy to make plant based! All you have to do is substitute the egg with a flax egg. A flax egg is ground flax seed that’s mixed with water. Let it sit and it forms a gel-like substance you can use as a binder in vegan baked goods. It might sound odd but use it once, and you’ll see how easy it is! It works well in quick breads, cookies and pancakes.

Why bake with applesauce?

Why bake with applesauce? Adding this fruit puree gives cake a rich, moist crumb to baked goods. Applesauce is a well-known substitute for butter and oil in baking recipes, an easy way to cut the overall calories. In these cookies it’s used for moisture and overall flavor (the oil is still necessary!). Even though it only uses 1/2 cup applesauce, you can taste it in every bite.

Applesauce cookies

Storage info

These applesauce cookies store well and stay very moist in a closed container. Here’s what to know about storage:

  • Store at room temperature in a cookie tin for up to 5 days. If the cookies are becoming too moist, you can unseal the top and let it loosely cover the tin.
  • Freeze un-iced cookies for up to 3 months.

More recipes with applesauce

Applesauce is one of our favorite tricks in baking! If you love these applesauce oatmeal cookies (which we know you will), here are a few more recipes with applesauce you’ll enjoy:

This applesauce cookies recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, see the substitutes in the recipe.

Print
Applesauce cookies

Iced Applesauce Cookies

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 20 cookies
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

No one will be able to stop eating these applesauce cookies! Made with applesauce and oatmeal, they’re laced with an easy icing drizzle.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all purposes flour
  • 1/2 cup Old Fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated cane sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice (or ginger)
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 6 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 1 egg (or flax egg for vegan)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 x recipe of Powdered Sugar Icing

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients. In a separate medium bowl, mix the wet ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until a sticky dough forms (it will be wetter than you expect).
  3. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill for 10 minutes. 
  4. Make 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized balls (using a size 40 cookie scoop, if you have it) and place them onto the baking sheet. Scoop or use 2 spoons to make evenly spaced drops onto the paper — don’t try to adjust or move them once they’re on the sheet. 
  5. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to cool to room temperature before enjoying. If desired, make a criss-cross icing drizzle with a fork using our 1 Minute Powdered Sugar Icing. Store at room temperature in a cookie tin for up to 5 days, or freeze (un-iced) for up to 3 months.
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Cookies

Keywords: Applesauce cookies

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Le Soleil cocktail

Thankfully, we are over that brief period of the year when the only fruits at the market are apples and pears, with a few persimmons and quince thrown in for good measure. I like those fruits very much but as winter descends and the skies turn grey (and stay that way) for the next few months, nothing brightens things up like a bowl of tangerines…

Thankfully, we are over that brief period of the year when the only fruits at the market are apples and pears, with a few persimmons and quince thrown in for good measure. I like those fruits very much but as winter descends and the skies turn grey (and stay that way) for the next few months, nothing brightens things up like a bowl of tangerines in my kitchen.

Continue Reading Le Soleil cocktail...

Spiced Orange, Sage and Macadamia Nut Cheeseball.

It’s macadamia nut cheeseball time! I always love sharing something EASY with you on this Monday before Thanksgiving – but something that you can still make in time for Thursday! Of course, I have lots of uses for leftovers, but I wanted to give you one last creative snack that you can make if you’re […]

The post Spiced Orange, Sage and Macadamia Nut Cheeseball. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

It’s macadamia nut cheeseball time!

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

I always love sharing something EASY with you on this Monday before Thanksgiving – but something that you can still make in time for Thursday! Of course, I have lots of uses for leftovers, but I wanted to give you one last creative snack that you can make if you’re in search of something new. It’s dreamy!

And it will complement all of your Thanksgiving table flavors SO well. It’s quite autumnal and seasonal if I do say so myself. 

ready to roll cheese ball

I know that I’ve said it a million times, but cheese balls are a thing in my family. This should come as no surprise consider BOTH (not one, but both) of my cookbooks have a cheeseball recipe inside. And I have countless cheeseballs here on the blog too. It’s slightly embarrassing. 

Much like my long-standing obsession with the blue Manolos that Carrie wears on Sex and the City or the great way I behave during arguments with Eddie:

I JUST CAN’T LET IT GO.

I can’t let the cheeseball go. And I don’t care how 80s or 90s it is. I can’t get over it!

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

And here’s why:

First, it’s obviously delicious. A really good cheeseball, like my pomegranate jeweled cheeseball, has become a staple that people use every single year. 

Second, it’s easy. Sure, this one is slightly more high maintenance, but the reality of cheeseballs is that they are easy. Mix everything together, coat it in nuts and serve. YUM.

Finally, you can make them ahead of time and they only taste better as they sit. YEP.

This is obviously the best part of cheeseballs, especially during this hectic holiday season, when you might need to make more than one snack. You can prep the cheese ball two days ahead of time and then the night before (or morning of), coat it in crushed nuts and herbs. 

Of course, this also means that cheeseball leftovers are excellent too. Remember when I shared my first ever cheese board years ago? I show you how to make a few cheese balls in that post and they are huge hits!

Plus more: goat cheese truffles, which are basically mini cheese balls. I LOVE CHEESE.

Oh! And as a post script point: they are fantastically easy to travel with. That earns triple points in my book. 

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

Let’s dig into the flavors though! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that I’ve been wacky over spiced orange creations this season. I’ve made a spiced orange spritzer and a spiced orange vinaigrette for salad. Naturally, cheese comes next in my brain.

Obviously.

I’ve wanted to make a macadamia nut crusted cheeseball for years. I’ll be talking more about those little love nuts in the next month, but they are just.so.buttery. They impart such a rich, buttery flavor wherever they are placed, which is one of the things I love about them.

So we have cream cheese, pecorino, some crushed macadamia nuts inside, lots of fresh orange zest, a few herbs and spices. We really took our time and played with these flavors to get just the right ratio of spice to orange that we loved.

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

However!

Everyone is different, and I suggest mixing up the concoction below and tasting it for yourself. Before you roll the ball, take a cracker and taste the cheeseball insides. If you want more orange, reach for more zest! If you want more spice, throw in some extra allspice. Remember that we do cover it in crushed macadamia nuts (and a few pecans for color) and herbs, so there will be some extra crunch and flavor on the outside.

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

If you can’t tell, I’m nutty over this cheeseball! Pun intended. 

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

Macadamia Nut Cheeseball

Spiced Orange, Sage and Macadamia Nut Cheese Ball

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It’s the perfect make-ahead snack!

  • 2 (8-ounce) blocks of cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup finely grated pecorino cheese
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped chives
  • 2 tablespoons chopped crispy sage ((recipe below))
  • 3 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of freshly cracked black pepper

for the outside coating:

  • ⅔ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, (like parsley, sage and chives)
  1. To make the crispy sage, heat 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a skillet. Once melted and bubbling, add 8 to 10 sage leaves into the butter, cooking for 2 to 2 minutes. Remove the sage with kitchen tongs and place it on a paper towel to drain any excess grease.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, pecorino, nuts, chives, sage, orange zest, allspice, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until combined and everything is evenly distributed. Taste with a cracker and determine if you would like more spice or orange. I love it just like this!
  3. Place a large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Form the cheese mixture into somewhat of a ball and place it in the center of the plastic wrap. Wrap it up, forming it more into a ball as your go. Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, or even overnight. After refrigerating, you can form it into more of a ball with your hands while it’s still wrapped in plastic.
  4. To roll the cheeseball, combine the macadamia nuts, pecans and herbs on a plate, stirring them together. Place the cheeseball on the plate and roll it through, coating the outside.
  5. You can serve the cheeseball immediately or wrap it up and serve a few hours later. You can make this a day or two ahead of time, but I would wait to roll the ball in the nuts, as they will soften over time because of the cream cheese.

This macadamia nut cheeseball is flavored with fresh orange, spices, crispy sage and pecorino cheese. It's the perfect make-ahead snack!

Pita bite crackers are where it’s at.

The post Spiced Orange, Sage and Macadamia Nut Cheeseball. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Spiced Orange Spritzer.

If you’re totally over apple cider, this spiced orange spritzer is your gal!! It’s a cross between a better mimosa and an aperol spritz (uh, without the aperol) and tasts absolutely incredibly – and just like this season smells.  In a good way. You know?  To be honest, I was desperate for a cocktail that […]

The post Spiced Orange Spritzer. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

If you’re totally over apple cider, this spiced orange spritzer is your gal!!

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

It’s a cross between a better mimosa and an aperol spritz (uh, without the aperol) and tasts absolutely incredibly – and just like this season smells. 

In a good way.

You know? 

orange juice and allspice

To be honest, I was desperate for a cocktail that didn’t include cranberry, pomegranate or cider! I mean, sure, don’t worry, I have a cranberry one coming next week. Of course. Eyeroll. 

For now though?

We are going full blown orange spice.

This orange spice combo is one we have been obsessed with this month. I have another quick appetizer coming for you next week that is orange spiced flavored, and while I always say that I’m not the hugest fan of orange, this is the business.

I swear, it’s the allspice and nutmeg that make it different. Just different enough. 

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

The spritzer starts with a fresh orange juice base. Use that smeg juicer because it’s the best! You whisk together fresh juice, fresh orange zest, a drop of honey, allspice and nutmeg. Oh my word, this mixture is so incredible!

A word on the zest: if you really dislike pulp in orange juice, you may want to skip the zest. BUT! It adds such a sweet little zing to the drink. It adds so much orange flavor. If you don’t mind a few sips of zest, leave it in. It’s super good!

This spiced orange juice gets poured over iced, then topped with prosecco. I prefer prosecco over anything else because it tends to be drier. And it just… tastes good. Obviously.

Then! That gets topped with orange seltzer. Or plain seltzer, whichever you have on hand. The orange adds some extra oomph.

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

I love this drink because it doesn’t taste as breakfast-like as a mimosa. It has a touch more flavor and tastes slightly more sophisticated, which I think makes it perfect for dinner! Or pre-dinner cocktails.

It goes fantastically well with all the Thanksgiving flavors, like cranberry and pomegranate and sage and turkey and stuffing. 

Oh that same note, it wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate to serve it at breakfast. Or brunch. 

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

So let’s do that! 

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

Spiced Orange Spritzer

Spiced Orange Spritzer

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

  • ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
  • 1 pinch allspice
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 2 to 3 ounces prosecco
  • 2 ounces orange seltzer
  • Orange wedges for garnish
  1. Fill 2 wine glasses with ice. In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the orange juice, zest, allspice, nutmeg and honey. Divide the mixture evenly over the ice in the wine glasses.
  2. Top each glass with the prosecco and then the seltzer. Garnish with an orange wedge. Serve immediately!

The spiced orange spritzer is a fancier mimosa and similar to an aperol spritz! A fresh spiced orange juice based mixed with prosecco and seltzer. So good!

Wow at how much I love this.

The post Spiced Orange Spritzer. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.